साहिब उदास भये दास खास खीस होत मेरी कहा चली? हौं बजाय जाय रह्यो हौं। लोकमें न ठाउँ, परलोकको भरोसो कौन? हौं तो, बलि जाउँ, रामनाम ही ते लह्यो हौं॥ १॥ करम, सुभाउ, काल, काम, कोह, लोभ, मोह- ग्राह अति गहनि गरीबी गाढ़े गह्यो हौं। छोरिबेको महाराज, बाँधिबेको कोटि भट, पाहि प्रभु! पाहि, तिहुँ ताप-पाप दह्यो हौं॥ २॥ रीझि-बूझि सबकी प्रतीति-प्रीति एही द्वार, दूधको जरयो पियत फूँकि फूँकि मह्यो हौं। रटत-रटत लट्यो, जाति-पाँति-भाँति घट्यो, जूठनिको लालची चहौं न दूध-नह्यो हौं॥ ३॥ अनत चह्यो न भलो, सुपथ सुचाल चल्यो नीके जिय जानि इहाँ भलो अनचह्यो हौं। तुलसी समुझि समुझायो मन बार बार, अपनो सो नाथ हू सों कहि निरबह्यो हौं॥ ४॥
When the master becomes indifferent, even a favored servant is ruined—what then can be said of me? I am being swept away to the beating of distress. There is no place for me in this world; what reliance can I place on the next? Blessed Lord, I have been acquired by Rāma’s Name alone. (1) The crocodiles of action, nature, time, desire, anger, greed, and delusion, together with deep poverty, have seized me tightly. Great King, there are millions of warriors to bind me, but only you to release me. Protect me, Lord, protect me; the three torments and sin have burned me. (2) Everyone’s delight and understanding, trust and love are at this very door. Scalded by milk, I drink even buttermilk only after blowing upon it. Calling and calling, I became exhausted; caste, rank, and manner diminished. I crave your leftovers and do not desire to bathe in milk. (3) I sought no good elsewhere; I walked the good path with right conduct, knowing well in my heart that here I desired no other good. Tulsi repeatedly understood and instructed his mind, then fulfilled his duty by speaking to the Lord as to one of his own. (4)